𝐀 L͟e͟s͟s͟o͟n͟ 𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

Four

The man stood up and straightened the light blue shirt that framed his defined chest and toned arms. His moves were deliberate as he spoke clearly and intentionally.

"It takes someone as self-absorbed as you to run a place like this. No wonder it took you almost two hours to make it to an interview that you requested. Just bear in mind I didn't come running to you."

Rachel stared at the intriguing figure of the man who stood tall and somewhat slightly indifferent to the woman who spun around to face him her face a mask of fury.

He chuckled as if he found her anger amusing. 

Tiana stopped in her tracks and turned around her eyes blazing. "Self-absorbed?!" she growled at him. "Listen to me you insufferable little twit you know nothing about me." With deliberate strides, she moved to where he stood towering over her. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Someone who knows how to give people the respect they deserve and who also understands the value of time, I am not tardy," came the calm response to what was intended to be a rhetorical question and a slight against his value here.

Rachel watch as Tiana's body shook with her budding anger. She watch as her boss stared at the man in contempt. She best gets this matter under control. 

Her eyes went from one to the other as she hit a button on her desk that automatically paged Kessa to Tiana's office.

"I'll have you know it was time, hard work, and perseverance that made this place you're now standing in seeking to become my employee. I built this place from the ground up. This is a multi-million dollar business you freaking jerk," Tiana said pointing her finger at his chest, "Don't you dare criticize me or my business!"

"When has stating a fact becomes a criticism, have I touched a sore point? Did I bruise your ego little girl?!"

The elevator doors opened and Kessa stepped out before the doors fully opened, a towel was draped over her shoulder, she had sweats drawn over a black spandex all-in-one sport swimsuit and her short hair was still wet and running water down her face. Her feet that practically ran into the reception area were bare.

She stared at Rachel and was about to question the urgent page when the sound of a husky voice pulled her attention its way but seeing Tiana a ball of barely suppressed anger she had no time to pay homage to the owner.

Kessa quickly moved between the two and grabbed Tiana. In an effort to quell the quarrel, Kessa's wet upper body pressed into that of Tiana's full heaving breasts as she pushed against her to prevent her from unleashing her fury at the man who stood there unfazed. 

"Tiana let's go to your office for a bit," Kessa said a little breathlessly.

Tiana was not in the least bit ready to put an end to the matter at hand and quickly tried to turn back around but Kessa held firmly to her friend's shoulders preventing the attempt.  She slide an arm down to Tiana's waist gripping it and guided her to the office.

The man gave a humorless laugh and said after taking up the manilla envelope with his credentials from the seat beside the one he had sat for almost two hours waiting.  

"This is crazy and a waste of time. On the two occasions we've met I can't say it was a pleasure." 

He started towards the elevator his intention being to get away from the woman who pull him in two different directions. How could this arrogant woman repulse him and fascinate him at the same time?

When Kessa pulled Tiana into the office and shut the door Tiana glared at the closed door. What was it about that man that rubbed her the wrong way? 

She was not a person who was easily phased despite the many private challenges she was facing in her life and yet from the moment he collided with her she lost all composure and crumbled without effort.